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Dream Home - A Mountain Retreat Nestled in the Wasatch Mountain Range above the resort town of Park City, UT, with its charming Main street shops and restaurants and small-town flavor.

Here, the Parrillo family of the Chicago, IL area, experience the heart and soul of nature firsthand. The home’s professional-style kitchen has high-quality appliances such as Sub-Zero, Thermador, and Miele. The layout of the appliances, with a Thermador double-oven on one side of the kitchen, a Thermador cooktop in the middle (behind the center island), two Sub-Zero refrigerators (hidden behind paneling) next to the cooktop, and two Miele dishwashers (one in the center island; the other, next to the sink), allows the family to easily prepare meals, especially since all family members enjoy cooking.

The Parrillo family’s 14,000-square foot Dream Home in the Deer Crest area of Park City, UT, is brimming over with wonderful details, including large windows with views of the natural beauty surrounding it, a waterfall on the back patio, access to a ski run, a professional-style kitchen, three laundry rooms, six bedrooms, a media room, a steam room and hot tub, an elevator, and computer systems that control the lighting, the heating and air-conditioning, the security system, the phone, humidity, and satellite television.

As the Park City region receives more than 300 inches of annual snowfall and contains hundreds of ski trails, of which more than half are rated at an intermediate to expert level, in the winter, skiing is the primary recreation of choice, but definitely not the only one. You can also find the most sought-after hiking and biking trails, in addition to the best of shopping, dining, and lodging.

The Parrillo family experiences those wonderful qualities and more in their 14,000-square-foot Dream Home, in the secluded and prestigious Deer Crest area of Deer Valley, on Bald Mountain. Although the home technically is considered a vacation home, it’s occupied about 60 percent of the year, considerably more than most vacation homes in the area.

The home was finished being built and decorated just weeks before the 2002 Olympic Games in the Salt Lake/Park City area. Design and construction of the home was quite an adventure, as mountains were literally moved to build it.

Construction of the home was a family venture for the Parrillo family: Richard and Michelle Parrillo, three sons (Rich, Jr., Mike, and Beau) and daughters Barbara and Samantha. With spouses and grandchildren, 11 people total were involved in the process. All of them share it throughout the year.

“ We built this home so that our whole family could have a place to get together,” says Beau Parrillo. “My father wanted a place where he could have all of his children and grandchildren in one house. The idea behind the home is that each child, with his or her family, has their own master suite, a room of their own. We are very happy with it. We feel like we’ve built a huge log cabin for all of us to enjoy.”

In addition to each family member having his or her own “suite,” complete with an individually decorated bedroom and full-bath, there also is a special room for the grandchildren, with 10 built-in bunk beds and a separate nanny quarters.

The home also boasts a professional kitchen, two bars, a billiards room, a media room, two laundry rooms, a hot tub/steam room, a workout room, and a guest apartment with kitchenette and laundry area. In addition, each room offers a mountain view, in particular the airy and open great room, which is the home’s center. With a breathtaking view of the mountains and the Jordanelle Reservoir below, and a towering brick fireplace surrounded by overstuffed seating, the great room is the place for congregating and relaxing.

Some of the more individual and special amenities include a ski prep room, a built-in ski boot warmer, an elevator, two staircases, specially designed lighting, and radiant hydronic heat.

Outside the home are several heated patios, including one with a waterfall that often attracts deer and other wildlife to drink, and perhaps the most attractive feature: a ski run with access literally as you step out the back door.

Before construction of the home could begin, however, tons of rock had to be moved, as the house was literally built on the side of a mountain behind a ski run. In fact, the area was once an old silver mine.

Greg Hauet, an estimator with Craig Construction in Park City, the builder of the home, says that there was “extensive excavation involved” before construction began. “It was almost a continuous stream of dump trucks heading down the mountain each day to export dirt,” he says, “along with a massive foundation that we had to build to tie the home to the hillside. We used lots of retaining walls. For several weeks, we were required to hire traffic control during construction hours. We had excavators and trucks moving down the mountain regularly for about five months hauling about 1,100 loads. Even with all that, we still wanted to keep our limits of disturbance to a minimum, clearing only what was necessary for the building itself and a tight perimeter for construction access.”

Working in winter conditions on a ski run with more than a 100-foot elevation drop and 8,000 feet above sea level didn’t help matters, either.

Mark Walker of Otto/Walker Architects in Salt Lake City, who helped the family design the home inside and out, says the project was fun and unique to the area. “It entailed about one year of drawing and 18 months to build, but it was a great experience,” he says. “Yes, it was difficult to work on such a steep site. We had to do extensive site planning and engineering to get the driveway, walls, foundation, and the structure to fit on that lot. It’s the steepest lot that I’ve ever worked on. But I’m proud of each part of the home. It’s almost a small hotel.”

The Parrillo’s also sought the advice of an interior designer, although they had many ideas of their own, having built homes in Vail, CO and in Northern Wisconsin. “Between all of us, with our ideas, it wasn’t that big of a process,” Jacqui Parrillo says. “We had planning sessions once a month at dinner to discuss ideas. Everyone had full reign of their own suites, but we had discussions about how to decorate the other rooms, and we went on lots of buying trips to fill the house.”

“ While we had many ideas about decorating,” she adds, “we also wanted everything out where it could be user-friendly. We’re more about functionality.”

The result is harmony between indoor and outdoors spaces, with comfortable, inviting furniture; space flowing freely from living, to dining, to cooking areas; and a significant use of distressed wood, wrought iron, hardwood floors, and rustic colors such as tan and green. Several glass windows are etched with images of nature. With exterior stone work inside and outside the home and large windows offering breathtaking views, you always have a relationship with the outdoors.

“ After speaking with the builder and architect, we decided to use distressed wood throughout the home, including the paneling over the appliances, where we could,” Mrs. Parrillo says. Rich color, rubbed spots, raised grain, original saw marks, nail holes, and hairline cracks give the wood its aged appeal. “The real beauty about the wood is the story behind it, it took six months worth of work for the artist,” she adds. Each individual board is hand made using a special hand scraping technique to create a unique surface for each board.

Even the home’s fireplaces are unique, including the fireplace in the great room, which was built from stone that was cleared to create the lot on which the house now stands. “If you go into any stream in this area, you’ll find the type of rock in this home, especially in the fireplace. It’s a very natural look, and there’s a real art to the way that it was built,” Mr. Parrillo says.

With so many hands involved in the process, one would think that decisions would be difficult to reach. Not at all, says Mrs. Parrillo. “Some of us [the women] traveled to North Carolina for three days and picked out furniture and fabric,” she says. “The trip was fun, and it brought us all together. We have different tastes, but we all had the same idea on what we wanted for the common areas. When you have so many people involved, you have to give and take a little.”

Adds Mr. Parrillo, “There are some things that I wished that we would have done a little different, like adding a dumb waiter. We have an elevator that we use to transport firewood and groceries, but a dumb waiter might have been nice as well. I also wish that we had wood storage next to the fireplace, but we wanted to preserve the look,” he says. “Still, it turned out great. And it’s always used. It’s busy during the summer, especially when the children are off of school. During the ski season, it’s always packed.”

On the far end of the kitchen - a Dacor double-oven and Panasonic television are near the easy access (and a view) to the outdoor patio area, where a waterfall and ski run await you.

The Kitchen

It’s been said time and time again: the kitchen is the busiest room in the home. This kitchen is no exception, says Mr. Walker. “The kitchen is the focal point of that home,” he says. “When you stand in the kitchen, every where you look, you have a command position with people in the formal dining room, the bar, the great room, the office, and the outside patio area. It’s the nucleus of the house.”

The 410-square-foot kitchen on the main level of the home allows for food prep while conversing with family and friends. And with its easy access to the outdoor patio area, even the most menial of tasks—like washing dishes in the sink—can be an opportunity to gaze at the waterfall outside. All of the kitchen appliances, except for the small electric appliances on the countertops, are hidden behind dark wood paneling to provide a seamless look. And as with the other woodwork in the home, the wood paneling is made from distressed alder wood, except for the center island, which is oak. “We just wanted it [the island] to stand out a bit,” says Mrs. Parrillo. “We weren’t sure if the lighter wood would do that, or if we would like it, but we have been pleasantly surprised.”

The professional-style kitchen has high-quality appliances from Sub-Zero, Dacor, Thermador, and Miele. “Whether it’s our entire family here or just a few family members, we all like to cook, so we needed a large space with high-quality appliances,” Mr. Parrillo says.

The entrance to the kitchen features two 36-inch Sub-Zero refrigerators, model 601R. The 19.9-cubic-foot interior is easy to organize with adjustable glass shelves, door shelves and other compartments. The refrigerator features a shallow-depth design for easy access to any area of the refrigerator, electronic controls that are up front and easy to use, a high-humidity compartment with removable dividers and smooth sides for easy cleaning, and a door alarm will let you know with an audible beeping if the refrigerator door is left ajar.

“ We needed two refrigerators because of past experiences in other homes,” says Mr. Parrillo. “In our home in Wisconsin, we realized that we never have enough room for both drinks and food, especially when we entertain. When this home is occupied, it’s usually occupied by many people, and that requires a lot of refrigerator space.”

The Thermador cooktop with grill is a favorite appliance of the Parrillo’s, especially since they are often looking for a quick meal after a full day of skiing. The Miele dishwasher within the center island and the two Sub-Zero refrigerators are ideal for cleaning up after a big meal and for large amounts of beverages and food.

Off the Kitchen

Interestingly, the freezer cannot be found in the kitchen, but in a pantry just a few feet off of the kitchen. “We don’t use the freezer as much as we use the refrigerators, so it’s appropriate for it to be hidden in the pantry,” Mr. Parrillo says. “We needed the space in the kitchen more for the two refrigerators.”

The Sub-Zero 601F freezer, also integrated behind dark wood paneling, has 19.4 cubic feet of space with three adjustable wire shelves and five adjustable door shelves. It also has an automatic ice maker with pull-out ice drawer. It has a shallow-depth design, meaning access is easy to any area of the freezer.

A Thermador stainless-steel double-oven with convection cooking sits at the opposite end of the kitchen, next to the dining room. The double-oven is built into cabinetry with a Panasonic PureFlat color television above it. The 30-inch double-oven has Sens-a-Touch™ digital controls beneath durable glass; can convection bake, broil, and roast; is self-cleaning, has curved glass styling; and has six racks.

“ The convection cooking feature is great for quick meals,” says Mrs. Parrillo. “But it took a while for us to get used to that type of cooking. Because we’re at a higher altitude, we tended to burn a few things at first!”

A Dacor stainless-steel microwave oven is discretely placed across from the refrigerator, underneath the countertop. It’s often used to make popcorn or to heat up baby bottles, Mrs. Parrillo says. “We use it a lot, and it’s in a good position in the kitchen as it is not near the other cooking appliances.” The appliance features sensors that automatically control cooking time and temperature. Onscreen recipes allow any family member to cook a meal quickly.

Next to the refrigerators is a Thermador six-burner stainless-steel cooktop with a grill on the right, perfect for quickly frying hamburgers. A Thermador vent hood provides ventilation.

“ The Thermador cooktop with the griddle was a must-have feature,” Mr. Parrillo says. “We come in from skiing and we like to make something quick on the grill. We don’t have to go out into the cold and use the grill on the patio, unless we want to.”

For cleanup, the kitchen has two dishwashers, one next to the sink and the other within the center island, but you’d hardly know it upon first glance. Both Miele Incognito dishwashers are exactly that—they’re invisible to the naked eye, because they’re hidden behind paneling and all controls are inside the door. They’re quiet as well. The dishwashers also have a stainless-steel interior cavity, can hold up to 14 place settings, including serving dishes, and feature an adjustable top basket and a cutlery tray.

On the countertop are a KitchenAid stand mixer, a GE four-slice toaster, two Mr. Coffee 12-cup coffee makers, a Krups Il Caffe Duomo Espresso Machine, and a Chef’s Choice Waffle Cone Express waffle maker.

There’s no warming drawer in this kitchen, which, increasingly has become a practical amenity for a family that entertains frequently or has a busy lifestyle, as this family does. “Frankly, there isn’t a warming drawer that’s big enough for our needs,” Mrs. Parrillo says. “We would have put one in if our family and parties were smaller, but with the amount of people that we come here with, it was not large enough. We needed more storage, instead. If we were to get one, we would have had to get three or four warming drawers instead of one, and we didn’t have the space.”

In the hallway outside of the kitchen, the Parrillo’s wine collection is proudly displayed with a Sub-Zero Model 427, 27-inch wine cooler. The wine cooler can hold up to 132 bottles in 14 shelves. It features a glass door and pull-out shelves that can store bottles, half bottles, and magnums. The wine cooler’s refrigeration system allows individual temperature control of two wine compartments. It also features UV protection and a display shelf with discreet lighting for prize bottles.

One of the home’s wet bars, on the lower level with access to the media room, billiards room, and family room, is primarily used for entertaining after dinner. The bar has a Marvel Serling Series built-in undercounter refrigerator with a glass door, a Fisher & Paykel double dishdrawer, and a Scotsman automatic ice maker.

Entertainment Time

A friendly atmosphere is always on tap in this Dream Home, thanks, in part, to two wet bars, a media room, a billiards room, and appliances that help make entertaining easier.

On the main level of the home, off of the great room and the kitchen, is a small bar area, complete with an undercounter refrigerator, the latest rage in appliances. The 24-inch Marvel Sterling Series built-in undercounter refrigerator with a glass door is perfect for storing cold drinks and hor’dorves for any gathering. The refrigerator has two glass interior shelves and 6.1 cubic feet of refrigerated space.

A Scotsman 15-inch wide ice machine hidden behind wood paneling not only looks great, but it makes gourmet ice cubes that are created by water being continually circulated by a pump that sprays water into inverted ice cube molds. Only the water is frozen, with the minerals and impurities flushed down the drain. The result is clear, odorless, and taste-free ice cubes.

The bar also has a Marvel Humidrawer™ for cigar storage, model 42242728. The appliance can hold 150 to 200 cigars and features adjustable dividers that allow a customized compartment size. The drawer and housing are hand-crafted of solid walnut and walnut veneer, finished and sealed to prevent moisture escape. The drawer itself is lined with untreated aromatic Spanish cedar, the preferred wood for humidifying and aging cigars. The drawer contains four adjustable dividers to accommodate cigars from five to eight inches in length. Smooth, snug-fitting Spanish cedar dividers are easy to remove. Best of all, the humidification system is discreetly hidden, yet easily accessible.

The bar also has a Fisher & Paykel single-drawer DishDrawer that accommodates long-stemmed glasses. The DishDrawer®, which is integrated behind dark wood paneling, allows the homeowners to mix delicate crystal and heavily soiled baking dishes all at the same time, washing the delicate glassware and crockery in one wash unit on the delicate cycle, with pots and pans in the other wash unit on a heavy duty cycle.

“ That bar wasn’t in the original plans, but we added it later after giving it some thought,” Mr. Parrillo says. “It’s great, because we can cook, eat hor’dorves, and enjoy a drink, all at the same time in close proximity to everyone. It helps us to have ‘family time.’ It’s a nice and cozy atmosphere when we’re all together.”

On the home’s lower level is another bar, perfectly placed near the family room, billiards room, and outside of the media room. The 63-square-foot space also has a Marvel Serling Series built-in undercounter refrigerator with a glass door, a Fisher & Paykel double DishDrawer, and another Scotsman automatic ice maker.

“ We had that bar put in for many reasons,” Mr. Parrillo explains. “We use it after dinner and when we’re watching a movie in the media room or playing pool. It’s also convenient to get the children juice or water before bed at night.”

Off the bar area is a family room with a Samsung color television, a Sony DVD/CD player, a Marantz floor tuner, a Panasonic DVD player, and an Integra Stereo System.

The billiards room also has a Panasonic television with DVD and CD player. The billiards table itself, can be converted into another dining room table, if need be, with benches that can be pulled up to it for chairs.

The 364-square-foot media room is a true, state-of-the art entertainment center with high-tech gadgets, a home theater, a surround sound system, and comfortable theater-style chairs and seating. It’s designed to be just like going to the movies.

“ We use the media room all of the time,” Mr. Parrillo says. “We’re all huge movie fans. And a lot of our guests enjoy it because perhaps they’ve never experienced one. Once you’re in there, you never want to watch television anywhere else.”

The room has a Runco DLP projector and a 110-inch Stewart Filmscreen Luxus Deluxe ScreenWall.

The projector, part of the company’s a Reflection™ Series, is perfect for situations where ambient light cannot be controlled, or for larger screen applications in which a CRT projector cannot generate enough light. The projection system offers a 3-chip configuration with 16:9 native resolutions for home theater applications. It produces 1280 x 720 high-definition images with superior clarity, color saturation, and contrast.

The home theater system also has an Integra DVD player, 18 Atlantic Technology System 20 in-wall speakers that use a Triad in-wall platinum sub-woofer, an RCA HDTV satellite receiver, and soundboards on the walls for acoustical treatment.

Room For Guests

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